“But youcan’tkill him, even accidentally. Or else we’ll stay this way forever. He’s our only chance of getting our lives back.”
The light fizzled from her fingers. “I suppose you’re right. But I just don’t know if I’m up for chasing anyone. I’m running out of gas.”
After another minute, Blue landed by my feet. A dagger hung from a cord wrapped around her neck, so I removed it. As soon as I did, she shifted back.
“Where did you get this?” I asked.
“Christian. He’s killing off guards inside. I can’t believe Sparrow would be out here unprotected. A smart man would have twenty guards within sight.”
I tapped the blade against my hand. “His energy is the weapon, and if he’s backed into a corner, he’ll use it. We’ve already seen what he can do—it’s whatelsehe can do that worries me.”
“He doesn’t know if he’s winning or losing.” Blue cast her gaze upward. “But I bet his ego tells him he’s winning. The trumpet, a hidden army—and what was that thing that scorched the earth? Did you see it? Maybe I’m finally going crazy. Or maybe he opened up some portal to the underworld.”
Wind carried the battle cries clear over the walls and into our sanctuary.
“Is he sitting or standing?” I asked.
“Sitting on that bench. No weapons I could see. He doesn’t seem to know we’re in here. I guess he thought no one would be able to get inside, let alone past all the guards by the windows and doors.”
“I guess he just wanted to sit out here and listen to it all.” I scanned the surrounding windows, worried that a guard from above might signal to Sparrow.
“Christian’s on the second floor,” she said. “He took care of all the Vampires watching the courtyard. You and I cleared the top level, and the wolves are on the first.”
I tapped the blade against my leg. “This feels too easy.”
A smile played on her lips. “You’d rather have it hard?” Her hair barely moved when a strong breeze gusted throughout the courtyard. “You need to hurry before he figures out he’s losing—before a guard sounds the alarm.”
I sharpened my light. Claude’s eyes were now golden, the spotted marks on his body gone. I thought about my father’s hug in that moment. I thought about Christian’s gentle embrace.
Then I thought about death.
I flashed at what felt like hypersonic speed, but part of that was my adrenaline. The trees and archways blurred as I turned the corner and ran toward Sparrow like a torpedo seeking its target. He was the only object in sharp focus. When he caught sight of me, he rose from the bench. His long hair rippled behind him when he raised his arms in a swift motion.
I slammed into him, and we flew over the bench. As soon as we hit the ground, I rolled him onto his back to make sure the stunner hadn’t come out. Then I watched his face and hands for any sign of movement, worried he might be faking it. I gave the dagger a good jiggle, one that would make any man wince. But he stared up, glassy-eyed. Sparrow looked like a dark angel.
“I can’t believe it was that easy.”
When I sat up, I realized why the others hadn’t come running over. An energy dome filled the sky. The blue light crackled like static electricity, and once I stood up from behind the bench, I could see the full scope. It surrounded the courtyard, locking us inside from every angle. I took a quick glance at Sparrow before rejoining the group.
Gem’s eyes rounded as she approached the energy wall. “Just look at it! It’s almost like a language of energy if you look closely. And it’s constantly moving.”
“I wouldn’t get that close,” I warned her.
Blue looked skyward, her falcon no longer able to escape.
My heart clenched when I saw Christian striding toward us from the pool area. I went to him, and we locked in a tight embrace.
“What are you doing out here?” I asked, wishing he hadn’t been caught in the bubble with us. “I thought you were inside.”
“Is he alive?”
I pulled away and turned my gaze to the dome. It was as if Sparrow had mapped every square inch of this courtyard in his head to build a perfect wall that would lock him inside, protecting him from harm. “I put a stunner in him.”
“Did he put up a fight?”
I shook my head. “Maybe he doesn’t know how. At the party, he made an electric sword and used it to execute people, but I didn’t see him fight.”
“Some men who lead aren’t warriors—they’re cowards who hide behind braver men.”
